Value for money more important than ever as over 1.3m extra visitors come to Ireland in 2015 – Griffin

“The latest CSO figures show that there has been a 12.8% jump in the number of tourists coming to Ireland in the first ten months of the year compared to 2014. These figures are extremely positive and highlight again the importance of offering value for money”, says Fine Gael TD and member of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications, Brendan Griffin. “Between January and October 2015, there has been a 12.8% increase in the number of tourists coming to Ireland; that translates as more than 1.3 million extra people. This is extremely significant and underlines once again the excellent tourism offering that we have here in Ireland. “I am particularly encouraged by the rise in the number of tourists between August and October, a period when the number of tourists coming to Ireland usually reduces. This year there were 14% more visitors to Ireland during this period. “This Government has introduced a number of measures to revitalise and invigorate the tourism industry in Ireland; the Gathering dedicated a whole year to promoting tourism, the travel tax has been dropped and, most significantly, VAT has been reduced in the hospitality sector. “The Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan, has however been very clear that in order to maintain the lower rate of VAT for the hospitality sector, value for money must be maintained. I believe it is vital that the tourism offering remains one that is affordable, represents value for money and will encourage people to continue to visit Ireland. “Tourism feeds every sector of the economy, particularly in counties like Kerry and growth of this scale is excellent news for everybody involved in tourism. This growth is testament to the fabulous scenery, facilities and activities we have available and to the people working in the tourism sector. “There is a danger that as the sector expands and as we begin to emerge from the recession, we may lose the value for money factor that was so essential in boosting tourism in the first place. I believe that we must work to keep the recovery going and towards creating more jobs in the tourism sector.”